A salamander is an amphibian belonging to the order Caudata (also called Urodela), characterized by a lizard-like appearance with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles, and a tail present in both larvae and adults
. They have moist, permeable skin, which makes them reliant on damp or aquatic habitats such as brooks, ponds, or moist woodlands
. Salamanders range in size but are typically about 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) long, although some species like the Chinese giant salamander can grow up to 2 meters (6.6 feet)
. Salamanders are distinct from lizards, which are reptiles; salamanders have moist, porous skin and can breathe through their skin, lungs, or gills, whereas lizards have dry, scaly skin and breathe only with lungs
. They mostly live in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest diversity in eastern North America
. Some species are fully aquatic, some are terrestrial, and others alternate between water and land during their life cycle
. Salamanders are carnivorous and nocturnal, feeding on insects and other small animals
. They have remarkable regenerative abilities, capable of regrowing lost limbs and tails
. Their name comes from the Greek word "Salamandra," meaning "fire lizard," linked to old myths about their ability to live in fire due to their habit of hiding in logs that were thrown into flames
. In summary, salamanders are moist-skinned amphibians with tails, living mostly in wet environments, and are ecologically important indicators of environmental health
